So as this text is quite difficult to understand (and I prefer to thinking it's not true what I understand ...) we have a question:

Is it already usual to breed mutant/mutant collies to test avermectines and is our breed already used as experimental animals ? Or does this information say that these informations are plans for the future to find the right dosage?

Can someone please explain this information for me in "easy words" ?

Best regards from Germany,
Kris

As for our project - we already show more than 600 dogs from all over the world! And every owner worldwide is invited to send us pictures and results.

Well, it is research that will help humans, and other dogs. I'd personally prefer they got shelter dogs, instead of bringing more defective animals into the world. And I certainly hope their experiments are as humane as possible, and that the animals are adopted (if that's at all practical) when the research is done. But as much as I feel sorry for the dogs, there is research that can save human and animal lives that can only be done on animal subjects. That's unfortunatle, but true. I guess it depends on where your values lie. I'd rather lose some animals now to save people and animals later. However, the experimenters should at all times remember that the animals are being sacrificed for the greater good . . . they must be treated with the highest level of respect and care.

research is only as good as the controls. The issue with shelter dogs is that heritability cannot be known. That would seem an important aspect for the experiements...that they be able to study various things passing along lines, or not...esp if they want to mess with altering markers or removing them.

research is only as good as the controls. The issue with shelter dogs is that heritability cannot be known. That would seem an important aspect for the experiements...that they be able to study various things passing along lines, or not...esp if they want to mess with altering markers or removing them.

Granted. It depends on whether they are studying heritability or effects.

i agree, hounded. if you want a cure for this issue, or a solution, then you must expect the research to occur on dogs affected with the gene. just another reason we need animals in research a computers 'dna' does not really give anyone any solution to this and most other health issues for dogs and people. i find nothing offensive about a research facility who has a group of dogs or other animals they are breeding and using for information regarding a disease to find the mode of inheritance breeding would be necessary and id rather have dogs raised in a research facility than those that were used to being pets, found in a shelter, and put in a research facility. dogs are happy wtih what they know they dont think 'i wish i was a house dog' if they dont know what a house dog is we have to remember always these are dogs not humans and they do not think like humans no matter how much we like to think they do.

looked like they were studying the amount of something that would cause ex reaction? In that case similar or identical sizes, weight, body condition, etc would only be helpful I'd imagine.

My breed is one of the ones most used in research. I do not have a problem with properly conducted and supervised animal research, and plan on taking advantage of the results of said animal research, myself should I become ill, ditto my hounds.

Do you really accept animal testing so easily? Are shelter dogs of no worth?
Do you really think that this tests are to help dogs affected by the defect?
How many dogs you want to be poisened to find out which drugs are safe?
Have you informed you about the defect at all?

Well, over here in Germany especially "dog people" think otherwise about it. There are several organisations against animal testing and they inform about alternatives (like in vitro...).
Poor country if that is not so there!

As for the defect - of which my dog is affected - I had to learn, that nearly every drug can cause unknown and/or unwelcome side effects. What do you think - how many tests do you need to know for sure for ALL drugs which will be safe or which dosage will be safe?
I loosed one Collie due to a wrong drug - and this I wouldn´t wish even my biggest enemy!
So be sure that I at least know very well about what I speak. I now the risk for my dog.
But I never would set my hope in animal testing!

The only way to help dogs is to breed it out! Here in Germany some breeders already started this.
But what about proud and big USA? Nothing?

And as for humans - some people here had to learn that an animal test wouldn´t say much about effects of a drug for human beings.